THE MINERS' TROUBLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1918, Page 6

THE MINERS' TROUBLE.

CONFERENCE AGREED VQ. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, August 30. Tlie coal-owners have agreed to meet the men in conference, and a reply from the miners is expected this evening. It is understood that one of the conditions is that the men shall resume work at once. STATEMENT BY SIMPLE. Westport, August 30. Mr. .Scrapie, in a statement to the Times this morning, said the officers of the federation, acting for the miners in Wellington, had extracted two proposals from the Government: Firstly, a Coinmission. Tf a Commission was refused l>y the employers they guaranteed; seconlv, a conference. Without committing the men to either proposal, the miners' representatives agreed to request all the unions, including those idle, to return to work during the negotiations. The Blackball, Boa, and Millerton unions disagree with the proposals to return to work. Mr. Semple had no information as to the attitude of the northern miners, hut none were on strike yesterday morning. On his return to Wellington, lie received a memorandum from the Minister of l Mines, informing him that the Oovarnment had arranged a conference forth- | | villi, conditionally that the men returned j to work while the conference war pro- I ceeding. Mr. Remple said: It will thus lie seen that the miners have won nut. on the ! question o" recognition of their organisation. and are to meet the owner;, at a rinnd-tnble conference. It is those winers whe are on strike to say if they VII return to work and allow the conference to proceed. If the employe"? are nf: all liberal. the miners' request for a 50 per pert increase will be granted without dr-lav. If not. the oosition is again in the miners' hands." STUBBORN MILLERTON MINERS Westport, Last Night. .Apparently the Millerton miners are stubborn for a 20 per cent- incren.se in wages. A ballot this morning, by H'." votes to 53, decided not to return to work. The other Buller district mines are working. Mr. Semple left for the south' this morning, en Toute to Wellington-